Beverly Jean White (née Larson; September 2, 1928 – May 24, 2021) was an American politician who served in the Utah House of Representatives for the 57th, 64th, or 21st districts from 1971 to 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party.

She was on the board until 1971, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the state house created by Representative F. Chileon Halladay's death.

During her tenure in the state house she served as assistant whip while in the majority and minority and was at times the only female chair of a committee.

White also served on a hospital board, wrote a book about female legislators, and aided in the creation of a satellite campus for Utah State University.

She was raised by her aunt Margret and uncle Dunn in Tooele, Utah, after her mother died from diabetes on September 17, 1941.

[2][31][32][33] After Representative Allan Turner Howe was convicted of soliciting sex during the 1976 United States House of Representatives election, White and other Democratic Party leaders called for Howe to withdraw from the election so as to not hurt the other candidates' chances and so a replacement appointment could be made.

[36] Governor Rampton appointed White to fill the vacancy in the 57th district in the state house on March 8.

[2][1][37] White won election to the 64th district in 1972 against Clarence Hansen, a write-in candidate[38][39] and Latter Day Saints bishop.

[50] During the 1982 election, White ran against Representative John E. Smith in the Democratic primary, as both of them moved into the 21st district due to redistricting.

[56][57][58] White declined to run for Karl Swan's seat in the state senate from the 13th district in the 1990 election as she wanted to maintain her seniority.

[60] At one of their debates, Nelson criticized her for being the "most liberal" member of the state house, for her support for abortion rights, and for the high number of legislative votes that she was absent for.

[42][64][65] In 1974, she was one of six women serving in the Utah state government alongside Georgia Peterson, Milly Bernard, Mary Lorraine Johnson, Nellie Jack, and Rita Urie.

[77][78] Governor Norman H. Bangerter refused to issue an ultimatum requested by Wilkinson demanding that the legislators either resign from the legislature or be fired, believing that the Utah Supreme Court was responsible for settling the matter.

[79] On February 23, the Utah Supreme Court ruled in an unanimous decision written by Justice Richard C. Howe that the legislators could retain their seats.

White also offered to resign from the position of chair in 1989, due to the controversy involving the debt, but the board voted to show confidence in her.

The two Republican members of the county commission were critical of the six proposed candidates, with Commissioner Teryl Hunsaker stating that the Democrats did not take the opportunity to select "clean, fresh blood to bring a new perspective into the system".

[97] White opposed clauses in an act of the state legislature which would require women seeking abortions to see photographs of dead fetuses, saying they were "pornographic" and that anyone who sent them through the mail would be arrested.

[103] She sponsored legislation in 1981 that equalized the income tax rate that single people and married couples paid.

[104] She was critical of budget cuts made in 1981 that affected the Department of Corrections, Medicaid, and psychiatric patient care.

[update][109] White and five other female members of the Utah state legislature wrote to Superintendent of Public Instruction Walter D. Talbot to investigate sex discrimination in educational hiring practices.

[110] In 1979, Representatives White, Joan R. Turner, Lucille G. Taylor, and Senator Frances Farley praised Governor Scott M. Matheson for appointing a woman, Phyllis C. Southwick, to the state house.